DNYUZ
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Television
    • Theater
    • Gaming
    • Sports
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel
No Result
View All Result
DNYUZ
No Result
View All Result
Home News

NYC rabbis remind Jewish faithful not to ditch Yom Kippur services for Yankees-Red Sox series: ‘Record the game’

September 30, 2025
in News, Sports
NYC rabbis remind Jewish faithful not to ditch Yom Kippur services for Yankees-Red Sox series: ‘Record the game’
494
SHARES
1.4k
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It’s a swing and a mitzvah for Bronx Bombers fans.

Rabbis are bringing the high heat over the Jewish high holidays and reminding congregants not to ditch their religious obligations for the highly anticipated New York Yankees Wild Card match-up with the Boston Red Sox.

Two games between the rival teams fall during the 25-hour Yom Kippur holiday that calls on Jews to abstain from food and drink, work and anything other than attending synagogue services to atone for their sins.

New York Yankees right fielder Aaron Judge (C) and his teammates are seen during the wild card practice at Yankee Stadium before their Wild Card game against the Boston Red Sox.
Two of this year’s wildcard games between the Yankees and Red Sox falls on Yom Kippur. JASON SZENES/ NY POST

That means no skipping the temple for the Cathedral of Baseball in the Bronx — while watching Yankees star Aaron Judge may mean observant Jews have to answer to a judge of a different kind.

“Record the game and go to Yom Kippur service. Don’t record the service and go to the game,” urged Rabbi Joseph Potasnik, executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis and a friend of Yankee Hall of Famer Mariano Rivera.

Michael Nussbaum, a member of the Jewish Community Relations Council who used to head the Queens chapter, reminded the faithful that Yom Kippur is “the holiest day.”

“So you miss one game. There are greater tragedies in life than missing a baseball game,” Nussbaum said.

But the suffering Mets fan quipped, “If the Mets were in the playoffs, I’d be upset.”

This year’s series doesn’t mark the first time that Yom Kippur has landed on a vital game, with Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax famously missing Game 1 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins, a game the California team ultimately lost.

Sandy Koufax famously missed Game 1 of the 1965 World Series because it fell on Yom Kippur. Bettmann Archive

“If they didn’t cancel the game for Sandy Koufax on your Yom Kippur, then they’re probably never going to cancel the game on Yom Kippur,” said Rabbi Shluchim Choli of the Chabad of South Bronx, which is located just a stone’s throw away from Yankee Stadium.

Rabbi Choli indicated that his community members are used to giving up their beloved baseball during the holiday season.

“They know that part of being Jewish is choosing their Judaism and connection with [God] over local cultural and recreational activities sometimes,” he said.

Major League Baseball does not seem too torn about making its fans choose between baseball and their religion, though it has in the past amended its schedules to accommodate its Jewish fanbase.

Back in 2009, a Yankees playoff match-up was moved from an evening game to an afternoon game so fans could watch on before sundown.

The Bombers came out victorious that night and went on to clinch their 27th World Series win — it also marked the last time the Yanks won a World Series.

Kevin Youkilis #20 of the Boston Red Sox throws out Brett Gardner #11 of the New York Yankees on September 27, 2009.
The Yankees and the Red Sox match up for the 2009 wild card series also landed on Yom Kippur, and the MLB moved the game up so it wouldn’t coincide with the holiday. Getty Images

Jim Berman, a die-hard Red Sox fan, was crushed when he realized his team was slated to play two of its games during Yom Kippur.

“How can they do this? We haven’t been in the playoffs in four years!” Berman, of Connecticut, said.

“This is the playoffs. I’m not a ‘pink hat,’ I gotta watch the game live!” he continued, referencing the slang term for Red Sox fans who only follow the team when they’re doing well.

Berman relented that despite his passion for the Boston team, he’d dutifully be at temple for service — though he plans on making a formal request that his rabbi slip in the game’s scores between readings and his sermon.

Rabbi Joseph Potasnik attends the New York Stands with Israel Vigil and Rally at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza.
“Record the game and go to Yom Kippur service,” urged Rabbi Joseph Potasnik. Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

Missing service on Yom Kippur is unthinkable for the Jewish community, he said — and could even bring bad luck.

“It’s the holiest night of the year and we’re going before God to ask him to forgive us for all of our transgressions for the past year. So if you disobey God, the Red Sox are not only going to get swept but bad things will happen. Then it’ll filter on for the Patriots, to the Celtics and the Bruins. Then we’ll have a real bad year,” Berman said.

“But all kidding aside, you have to go to temple. If you’re breathing, you have to go.”

Neither MLB nor the Yankees immediately responded to The Post’s request for comment.

Additional reporting by Reuven Fenton

The post NYC rabbis remind Jewish faithful not to ditch Yom Kippur services for Yankees-Red Sox series: ‘Record the game’ appeared first on New York Post.

Tags: baseball playoffsboston red soxjudaismmlb playoffsNew York City LifeNew York Yankeesyom kippur
Share198Tweet124Share
Judge Disqualifies Nevada’s Acting U.S. Attorney From Handling Cases
News

Judge Disqualifies Nevada’s Acting U.S. Attorney From Handling Cases

by New York Times
September 30, 2025

A federal judge on Tuesday disqualified Nevada’s top federal prosecutor from handling cases, a rebuke to the Trump administration’s attempts ...

Read more
News

Nike’s CEO breaks down where its comeback plan is taking root — and where it still has work to do

September 30, 2025
Entertainment

Tyrese Gibson failed to turn himself in following arrest warrant for cruelty to animals, police say

September 30, 2025
News

Rogan calls out self-described ‘progressives’ who celebrated the ‘public execution’ of Charlie Kirk

September 30, 2025
News

Trump pulls nomination of E.J. Antoni to lead Bureau of Labor Statistics, AP source says

September 30, 2025
LeBron James looking at slow ramp-up to Lakers season

LeBron James looking at slow ramp-up to Lakers season

September 30, 2025
AI startup Character.AI removes Disney characters from its chatbot platform after legal letter

AI startup Character.AI removes Disney characters from its chatbot platform after legal letter

September 30, 2025
Ted Cruz Says ‘Let’s Stop Attacking Pedophiles’ in Awkward Gaffe

Ted Cruz Says ‘Let’s Stop Attacking Pedophiles’ in Awkward Gaffe

September 30, 2025

Copyright © 2025.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • U.S.
    • World
    • Politics
    • Opinion
    • Business
    • Crime
    • Education
    • Environment
    • Science
  • Entertainment
    • Culture
    • Gaming
    • Music
    • Movie
    • Sports
    • Television
    • Theater
  • Tech
    • Apps
    • Autos
    • Gear
    • Mobile
    • Startup
  • Lifestyle
    • Arts
    • Fashion
    • Food
    • Health
    • Travel

Copyright © 2025.